MALIBU, Calif.--The Virginia volleyball team dropped its first match of the season Friday night (Sept. 6), falling to Colorado State, 3-1 (25-18, 17-25, 19-25 and 19-25), on the first day of the Pepperdine Invitational in Malibu, Calif.

The Cavaliers dropped to 3-1 on the season, while the Rams improved to 4-0. CSU outhit UVa, .244-.186, and served 11 aces to Virginia's two.

Junior Morgan Blair (Long Valley, N.J.) led the Cavaliers, earning kills on all eight of her attempts while adding four blocks. Freshman Haley Kole (Tallahassee, Fla.) recorded a match-high with 14 kills, while junior Tori Janowski (Sterling, Va.) added 11.

The Rams closed the UVa first-set lead to two at 16-14, but after a timeout, the Cavaliers earned four of the next five points and went on to win, 25-18. Janowski tallied five kills, while freshman Lexi Riccolo (Wheaton, Ill.) added six digs and an important service ace after a timeout.

In the second set, CSU hit .391 with 12 kills, while holding the Cavaliers to a .038 hitting percentage on the way to a 25-17 victory and tie the match at one set apiece.

Colorado State took the third set, 25-19, after jumping out to a 10-3 lead and never looking back. Virginia had five blocks in the frame, but the Rams received five service aces from Kaitlind Bestgen.

In the fourth set, Virginia cut the Ram lead to 19-17, but CSU pulled off six of the last eight points to clinch the win, 25-19.

Samantha Peters led the Rams with 11 kills and a .526 hitting percentage.

The Cavaliers return to action Saturday (Sept. 7) for the final day of the Pepperdine Invitational when they face the host Waves at 1 p.m. and UC Santa Barbara at 8 p.m.